Zeitgeist Addendum

April 10, 2009

Happy Friday. In my experience, Friday is a good day to take a step back from the day to day hassle of your job and think outside the box.  The following is a video that takes a look at the world through the eyes of economic conspiracy theorists.  Though I do not agree with a lot of the ideas that it is trying to perpetuate, I do think it is worth a viewing.  It gets you to examine the economic world that we live in, and the effect that our globalized economies have on our lives.

Thank you to all of my newest readers who have made Be Innovation one of WordPress.com’s fastest growing blogs in 2009.  I appreciate your continued support and welcome any comments or suggestions on how we can make this blog more useful and interesting.  Thanks!

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Posted by Zach Heller

Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going

March 30, 2009

I decided to close this month with a recap of some of the most popular posts thus far in 2009. It has been a solid three months on Be Innovation, as we have seen traffic continue to rise on a weekly basis.  Daily visitors are up 400% from what they were in December, and I have tripled the number of subscribers I had at that point.

I appreciate all of my readers, and especially thank those of you who have joined in the conversation, either through guest posts, emails, or comments.  I hope you continue to do so as we work to provide new and fresh content all the time.

For those who may have missed out on some of the most popular and discussed posts of this year, here is a short recap:

  1. Lend a Finger – This was a very meaningful post to me marking my father’s birthday one year after he passed away.  I discussed the need for charity and the fact that in today’s world, it does not take much to give back and help others.  The response I got (ie. retweets, emails, donations, linkbacks) was incredible.
  2. 13 Ways to Make Google Adwords Work for You – Many companies are taking advantage of Google’s advertising program to make money online.  However, the majority of advertisers are wasting money because they don’t pay attention to some simple steps you can take to increase your Adwords ROI.  Follow these 13 strategies and I guarantee better results.
  3. Hire a Social Media Manager and Start Talking – This post related to news that many companies had started using social media to interact with customers.  Though this is a good thing, and a trend that should continue to grow, there are ways that you can approach the social web to make the whole experience more worth your while.
  4. Steve Jobs to Take Over at GM – TechCrunch ran an article with an open letter to President Obama, explaining that if the auto industry is to regroup and revitalize itself, they should look to innovative leaders like Steve Jobs.  I posted a follow up with thoughts and explaination, backing the controversial article.
  5. Where is our News Going? – This post was interesting, because when I wrote it I was not sure what kind of response it would get.  It is a commentary about the lack of power that major news organizations have nowadays, and some possible suggestions that many people have offered and questioned that could help out those news organizations looking to move forward.

Moving forward, I hope to continue at the pace we have built up over the first three months of the year.  I will continue to post 3-4 new articles each week, and welcome all guest posts.  Just email me your ideas and we can get started.  Thanks again to all my readers and subscribers.

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Posted by Zach Heller

Madness? A New Spin on Sports Betting

March 20, 2009

centsportsA longstanding controversy, the art of sports betting has been around as long as people have been playing sports.  And as the internet made gambling from anywhere in the world at any time an effortless, habit forming task, the controversy spread.  What is legal?

The sheer legality of gambling makes it appealing.  As I have said in the past, even negative publicity gets people’s attention.  And if you get their attention, you’re winning the battle.

Now, imagine you can take the concept of sports betting, and make it legal in some way.  Then, say you manage to do that and offer it online, where anyone with a computer and internet access can get to it, anytime.  Sounds like a pretty innovative way to start a business.

Well there are two websites of mention that are doing this, and seem to be doing it well.

First, there’s ESPN.com.  Their website has undergone a massive transformation over the past couple of months, with a clear focus on driving advertising dollars and boosting web traffic.  One very interesting way they have done this is by creating a “Streak for the Cash” contest.

Basically, Streak for the Cash offers up various sporting events that users can “bet” on by selecting the winners.  The first person to collect 25 wins in a row, wins $1 Million.  And it’s free to play.  What this does is brings people to the site over and over again throughout the course of the day/week/month that this contest is active.  The more hits they get, the more ads they can serve, the more money they’ll bring in.

Second, there’s a site most people are not as familiar with, CentSports.com.  I was introduced to CentSports through a friend who had gotten involved and was enjoying the experience.  Immediately I was intrigued.

CentSports operates like a traditional sports betting site, except that you cannot gamble with your own money, making it completely legal.  You open an account, and you get $0.10.  That 10 cents is yours to bet with on whatever you want.  You can build up a large bankroll over time, and whenever you go broke, they’ll put 10 cents back into your account.

Here’s the catch, even though the money you are using is completely free, you can cash out for real money once you get to a certain value.  They have tricky cash out rules, and you have to play for awhile to build up enough money to cash out, but its all very real.

How do they do this? Ads.  Companies have been quick to buy ads on the site, which get displayed with the user’s permission, and often.  The money from these ads supports the weekly payouts to “betters”, and keep the site going.  As the site gets more popular, the ads will definitely continue to get more valuable.

Both of these are examples of websites that are looking to capitalize on the popularity of gambling in a new way.  Make it free (which also means legal) and support yourself with ads.  We’ve seen this model work in many industries, and it looks to be a winning formula here as well.

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Posted by Zach Heller

Free eBook: Tips and Tricks to Make Money Online

March 2, 2009

Daniel Scocco of Daily Blog Tips had an idea, use the power of his network to create a collaborative ebook on making money.  So he used his blog to ask for submissions from any and all who wanted to participate.

After about a month of Daniel receiving submissions and compiling the tips, the book is finally ready.  And guess who is the first contributor listed?

I am sure that is just coincidence, but either way it could be a valuable tool, and an interesting resource.  I am offering the ebook, entitled “Tips and Tricks on Making Money Online” as a free download.  However, since it is a collaborative effort, I cannot post a download link here.

Instead, all you have to do is subscribe to my RSS feed either through a reader or by email.  Then, all you have to do is click the “Email the Author” link at the bottom of my feed to request the book and I will get it to you right away.

I want to thank Daniel for this opportunity.  I would love to hear what you think of the book, who’s tips you liked/didn’t like and why.  Feel free to email me with any questions or comments, or just add them in the comments section below.

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Posted by Zach Heller

Fliggo, Obama, and Other Thoughts

February 27, 2009

fliggoAfter reading this article in TechCrunch yesterday, I decided to do a little research on Fliggo.com.  Fliggo allows you to create your own video sharing site, your own YouTube in a way.  I see a lot of potential in their service and started to brainstorm a few ways that this could be used.

It would be a great tool for companies to host online training videos for new hires.  It can be branded and customized, closed or open, and allow for alerts, comments, and ratings.  All company training videos can be posted in the right order, and link to and from training sheets and workbooks.

Consultants could use it to showcase ideas and strategies to potential clients.  Friends and family can use it to share videos and comments in a private space.  Certainly entertainers can create their own dedicated space to draw new fans and entertain their devout followers.  And non-profit organizations and interest groups can use it to build their community and share their message.

There are many more things that Fliggo could be used for, and I expect that if they follow the path of Ning, which did this for social networks, they will successfully launch a paid version.  I myself just created a community at http://innovate.fliggo.com as an extension of this blog.  Please go there, sign up for free, and join. There are no videos up there now but I am working on some ideas for the near future.  Feel free to upload and share your own videos.  Tell the community what you are doing to innovate, or any ideas you might have on the subject.  I look forward to seeing them.

On another note, I found this quite interesting.  It is a breakdown of specific word usage in Presidential speeches, comparing Obama to all past presidents.  The one thing that struck me was that he used the word “entrepreneurs” more than any other president.  In an economy like this, it is important to have a president that not only supports small business creation, but also recognizes the need for small business growth to help the total economic turnaround.  What stands out to you?

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Posted by Zach Heller

Lend a Finger

January 29, 2009

et-fingerWhat can you do with just one finger? Now before anybody starts to get vulgar, let me take a minute to explain.

The web has allowed us to reach out to almost anyone, anywhere in the world with a few clicks of the mouse.  It has allowed us to search through millions of pages of information on any topic our little hearts can imagine.  And it has given us the gift of access to anything we want; movies, music, books, news, etc.

What the web has also allowed us to do is help people.  This is an area that we are just starting to tap into, and it’s an important one to take notice of.  President Obama has referred to this moment in time as the dawning of a new era of responsibility.  We have a responsibility to each other.  We can help solve some of the world’s problems if we work together.

A little over a year ago, my dad was taken from us after a bout with cancer.  For the nearly four years that he struggled with the disease, I was left to ponder how in the world someronald_mcdonald_logoone like me could do anything to help.  And in the year that he has been gone, those same thoughts have plagued me.  But now I realize, it has nothing to do with what I can do.  It has to do with what we can do, the people, in masses, if we put our minds to it.

Today would have been my father’s birthday, and in honor of him I have donated to a charity dealing directly with brain tumors.  That is how I will “Lend a Finger” to help today.  Below I have listed a number of links to various charities and charity rating authorities.  It is my hope that you will take a moment to review them and donate if possible.

jimmyvThe goal is not to give all of our money to cancer research, but to begin to spread the movement. Together, we can do so much to help.  And the internet has allowed us to help in so many simple ways.  So “Lend a Finger” today.  You can lend a finger by clicking your way to a donation, sending a gift, writing an email, or anything else you can think of.  And take the time to pass this on to others.

cancerresearchinstituteIf everyone you know takes a few minutes out of the day to think about how they can help someone else, we can start to move forward.  We can be a nation of change, fulfilling a responsibility to ourselves, our families, and future generations.

The American Brain Tumor Association

The Ronald McDonald House

Sunshine Kids Organization

The Jimmy V Foundation

The Cancer Research Institute

Top Rated Charities from Charity Watch

Even if you can’t give today, you can do a great deal to help by passing this on.  If you have a Twitter account, Tweet this.  If you’re on Facebook, post this using the button below.  If you are on Digg, Digg it.  Email it to friends, and subscribe to receive future updates on the strength of this movement.  Post a blog describing how you plan to Lend a Finger, and asking for others to do the same.

There are people in this world that we can help.  And if it doesn’t come from us, where will it come from?  Use the comments section as a starting point.  Share with us how you plan on spreading the “Lend a Finger” campaign.

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Posted by Zach Heller

2008 Innovation in Review

December 29, 2008

2008 was a strange year.  It was a year that saw a rough economic downturn, a struggle by our government to save some big companies, and an effort by banks across the globe to stabilize themselves.  The term recession was thrown around plenty, and a lot of well established corporations underperformed because of it.

But even so, there were people and companies that were moving in the right direction.  To finish off the year here on Be Innovation, I wanted to touch on some of the most innovative people and creations of the year.

David Plouffe and the rest of Obama’s campaign management team should be recognized for their innovative use of viral marketing in the 2008 presidential campaign.  For the first time, a presidential candidate got in touch with the younger, internet generation.  This not only drove more young people to vote, it increased his “brand awareness”, and made him seem more “available” then most politicians.

Kevin Rose, as Inc Magazine puts it, is the first media maverick of the social web.  In 2008, he saw his company, Digg, gain popularity and value.  It spawned off an internet TV show “Diggnation” and the Kevin Rose web-celeb status.  He owns or operates several other internet ventures and is surely planning more for the future.

Apple, Google, and Research in Motion deserve credit for bringing the mobile web into the hands of consumers.  New 3G phones with one-touch applications and easy web use has made living life on the go easier than ever.  Advancements in touch screen technology, internet availability, and mobile technology have made these phones popular and practical.
There are many, many more people, companies and inventions to mention.  But there is only so much room here.  Take a look at some of these other lists that round out the top innovators/innovations of 2008.

The Economist discusses this year’s winners of the annual innovation awards.  B to B Media Business showcases their top innovators in five different categories.  The Scientist lists their top 10 innovations of the year.  Check out Time Magazine’s top inventions of 2008.  And finally, MediaWeek discusses the most impressive innovations of the year in media and marketing.

And we can all look forward to 2009, which at this moment in time, holds a limitless amount of possible innovations.  2009 will be the year of an “Innovate or Die” mindset for corporate America.  The times are changing (have changed) and it will put a lot of pressure on big companies to adapt and grow in a new direction.

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Posted by Zach Heller

November Wrap-Up: Most Popular Posts

December 1, 2008

December is upon us.  Another month of innovation lies ahead.  Hopefully everyone had a great holiday weekend and found much to be thankful for.  Below are the blogs that Be Innovation readers were thankful for.  Here are the top 3 most popular posts from November.  And remember, the best way to keep track of all the top posts from Be Innovation is to subscribe to receive email updates.

1.    Mobile Battles, Monetization of the Social Web, and Risk Taking
This post discussed a variety of news items from the technology world.  It is important to note that the battle to control the mobile web is upon us, and all the competitors will try to use this holiday season to gain an edge.  This month is about taking risks, and for retailers, it is important to stand out and be different in order to gain holiday shoppers. Read the entire post here.

2.    The 3 “S” Formula to Innovative Viral Marketing
This was the most popular post of the month.  The 3-S Formula garnered attention from a variety of marketing blogs and experts.  Though it is very basic, it is important to note that viral marketing does not just happen on its own.  The very best in the business know this, and do everything they can to allow the word to spread.  Stand out, Spread the Word, and Serve Your Customers. Read the entire post here.

3.    Innovations in Shopping Make Your Life Easier
It seemed very sensible to post a shopping blog before the holiday, and then repost it here on “Cyber Monday”.  Many other blogs have similar recommendations for holiday shopping online.  This post offers a number of websites and services that make shopping online easier and hassle free.  I have tried all of them and find that each one offers something unique and worthwhile.  Read the entire post here.

A final note to retailers: This is it.  This is the month that your entire year comes down to.  Time to stick whatever notion of value you have out the window and do whatever it takes to service your customers.  Holiday shoppers are extra cautious about price this year, and you need to do something to stand out in their eyes.  No longer can you avoid price competition.  Why not do something creative to garner some trust with holiday shoppers.  Offer exclusive memberships, return customer discounts, free trials and gifts, special online discounts to avoid the in store hassle.  Many retailers will lose out this month, but the best of the best, most innovative and creative retailers, will win big.

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Posted by Zach Heller

Innovative Business Masterminds

November 25, 2008

inovasi_4When you’re ready to stop talking innovation, and start doing it…

IBM basically stole their tagline from my blog, but I’m not complaining.  They could have thrown a little credit my way, but I don’t expect it.  Why this blog is not part of IBM’s group of blogs is beyond me.

Innovative Business Masterminds.  It’s not what IBM stands for, but it might as well be.  And by masterminds, I mean both the actual machines that they produce, but also the systems they have in place, and the people behind the scenes.  IBM is a brilliant company that supports the success and development of many other companies.  As they rise, we rise.

Between the research that they do, the computer systems and data technology that they produce, and the corporate technology consulting business, IBM has long established their place in the world economy.  And now, IBM is taking action in an area that is of interest to me.

Project Blue Spruce is a new collaboration platform that IBM is currently working on as part of a move into online collaboration and social networking.  The goal is to set up an easy to use platform for anyone to meet and collaborate online.  Differing from existing web based platforms, this will be a completely shared environment that you can access with a server and a browser.  You’ll be able to download and share all tools and capabilities associated with the space, and work with people anywhere in the world.

This fits in with their plan to develop social networking tools for business that they announced earlier this year.  This shift is one that is both necessary, and brilliant.  IBM will originally use their social network developments to interact within the company, their partners, and their customers.  This will give them a real life testing agent, as well as help them collaborate to make new systems more useful and intuitive.

I am a huge proponent of collaborative work.  In my opinion, working with others is the best way to develop truly innovative and new ideas.  And social media has taken us into an era where online collaboration is easier than ever before.  As internet access continues to open up to the masses, and physical distance becomes irrelevant, technologies like this will allow us to do anything we want to do.  The future is one of mass innovation, collaboration, and change.  And IBM is helping to take us there.

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Posted by Zach Heller

Innovations in Shopping Make Your Life Easier

November 6, 2008

Are you ready to change the way you shop? The answer is yes for more people every year. And this year, we are guaranteed to see a higher percentage of people doing their holiday shopping online than ever before. Why?

Well, there are many reasons. It obviously helps most people avoid the stress of the shopping experience. It is easy, less time consuming, and can be more fun.

Innovations by companies that have taken shopping online are making it easier still to find what you are looking for at the right price. And in this economy, we will all be looking to save a little money during the holiday season. Here are a few things that are going on that more people should be aware of:

  1. Social Shopping: Thisnext.com, Kaboodle.com, and Wists.com are a few of the websites that have defined this new category. Social shopping combines wish lists and popular trends with the ideals of social networking. Users have individual profiles and can communicate with one another. The site tracks what its users desire, feature the most popular products, and offer specials for gift giving. They have been growing in popularity recently and are sure to pick up steam heading into the coming months.
  2. Gift Finders: Websites like FindGift have made it easier than ever to get ideas for gifts. Simply go to the website, and follow the steps. They will ask you who the gift is for, what the occasion is, and then they will show you literally hundreds of great suggestions. These gifts are not offered directly through the site, but through third party sites that would otherwise be near impossible to find. I have personally used this website in the past and would definitely use it again.
  3. Deal Finders: Dealcatcher.com and Shopzilla are two sites that I have used to find the best deals on the web. There are many sites out there like these that will scour the internet for the best prices on certain items. Dealcatcher.com is one of those sites that you can come to every day and find new specials, as they highlight deals and let the users decided which are the best. If you have a general idea of what you are looking for, use one of these sites to get it at the best price.
  4. The Classics: eBay and Amazon have been long standing shopping sites. They both continue to build their services and make it easier to find exactly what you are looking for. eBay allows you to search through their auctions, as well as individual “stores” that people set up so there is no limit to what you can find there. Amazon has added many features that let you customize the products you see on a regular basis. They will show you deals that they think you are interested in, and their user reviews make it easy to compare products you like.

No matter how you do your shopping now, the new tools that are available online will certainly have an impact. This holiday season, change the way you shop, you may be very happy you did.

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Posted by Zach Heller

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